AUGUST 16-22, 2018
ARTS · ENTERTAINMENT · CULTURE
HYPNOTISM HEALTH AND YOU
HYPNOTISM IS USED FOR FAR MORE THAN COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT
ON THE
BEAUTY OF DECAY THEDA MCPEEK EXPLORES BEYOND THE SURFACE
YOUNG VALLEY NEW TOUR
THE NEW BREED OF COUNTRY TAKES ON THE OUTLAW MANTRA
THE PRISM OF THE PAST
SPIKE LEE CHANNELS THE '70S TO LOOK AT TODAY
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15, ISSUE 33 • AUGUST 16, 2018
BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny Steven W. Disbrow Jessie Gantt-Temple Kevin Hale Matt Jones Mike McJunkin Tony Mraz Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib Alex Teach Michael Thomas Cartoonists Max Cannon • Jen Sorenson Tom Tomorrow
ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com
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Account Executives Rick Leavell • Libby Phillips Ivan Rochelle • Danielle Swindell
CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Fax 423.266.2335 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2018 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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Hypnotism, Health, And You You are getting sleepy, very sleepy. We’ve all seen this scenario play out, maybe in a movie or at the circus, where a hypnotist dangles a pocket watch on a chain to slowly and seductively put his subject into a trance-like state.
"KARTING FOR KITTIES"
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YOUNG VALLEY, NEW TOUR
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This coming November, Infinity Flux Cards, Comics and Games marks four years in business...but there is so much more to celebrate than simple longevity.
Ah, country music! So what is that, exactly, anyway? Like every other genre of popular music, it has evolved over time, not always for the better.
9 JUST A THEORY
ON THE BEAUTY OF DECAY
Ever since its transformation from industrial wasteland to vacation destination, the Scenic City has been preoccupied with beauty. Much of the art made here reflects that.
THE PRISM OF THE PAST
Spike Lee’s latest film BlacKKKLansman might be set in the 1970s but it’s not movie about a time period. It resonates all too well with what is happening today.
18 MUSIC REVIEWS
21 NEW IN THEATERS
12 ARTS CALENDAR
19 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
22 ON THE BEAT
16 MUSIC CALENDAR
19 THE COMIX
23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
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BEGINNINGS · CITY LIFE
“Karting For Kitties” Infinity Flux channels our nerd/geek culture for a cause By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse contributor
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The rules are simple. Pay $5 for entry to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch against Lonnie (who remains undefeated).”
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HIS COMING NOVEMBER, INFINITY FLUX CARDS, Comics and Games marks four years in business...but there is so much more to celebrate than simple longevity.
This locally owned comic book shop is a superhero in the community’s eyes as they have been repeat contributors to many non-profits including the Chattanooga Film Festival, the Chattanooga Rollergirls, the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee, Northgate Public Library, and Hixson High School. Stop by the store on Hixson Pike this Saturday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. for “Karting For Kitties”, hosted by the Untitled Nerd Network and benefiting the Humane Educational Society (HES) of Chattanooga. Lonnie Henderson, creator of the
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Untitled Nerd Network which features “nerd/geek culture for all ages”, has a soft spot for cats and once he partnered with Infinity Flux, it was game on! Technically this is the second year for the fundraiser but the name has changed while the concept has remained the same. Last year, it was “Furever Friends Fundraising” that raised $350 and this year “Karting For Kitties” has a goal to raise double. The rules are simple. Pay $5 for entry to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch against Lonnie (who remains undefeated). There is also an
option to pay $10 for a team of three to take him on as a tag team effort may be what’s needed to take home the win. Either way, all entry fees go directly to the HES and it enters you to win a grand prize of ConNooga 2019 Saturday passes, a $40 Infinity Flux gift certificate and a pair of weekend passes to Metrotham Con’s 2019 show. If you win a race against Lonnie, then you are entered into an additional bonus giveaway. Door prizes and a silent auction will also be available for those who wish not to put their gaming skills to the test. Silent auction items include autograph cat prints from Jenny Parks Illustration, a box of sweet treats from Einstein Bros. Bagels in Hixson, a year of pizza from Old Chicago at Northgate mall, a Chattanooga Rollergirls gift basket, hand-drawn colored cat pieces from AArt, a penguin-painted canvas straight from the Tennessee Aquarium and much more. Even if you aren’t interested in comics or video games, Infinity Flux’s mission is to provide a place “without barriers where anyone feels welcome”, according to Meagan Frey, who is in charge of marketing and has a passion for encouraging creativity and community. “It’s like saying you don’t like movies,” she adds. “Everything has a comic so if you like The Walking Dead, unicorns or tacos--there is a comic for it.” Rapidly expanding, Infinity Flux added a second location in 2016 and was fortunate enough for it to be just a few doors down in the same complex. Be you an animal lover, gamer, comic collector or just curious, make it a point to peek your head into either door at 3643 Hixson Pike for an opportunity to discover a new-found fun.
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “Fear kept me from leaving the nuclear reactor I called a family.”
For The Love Of Bonsai Learning this ancient Japanese gardening art form If you’re like me, you love the idea of being a gardener, but somehow kill everything you touch. Or the one plant you took the time to pot survives for a short while before giving up on life because it knows you’re scared of ruining it and therefore just goes ahead and finishes the job for you. (I’m probably overthinking that last bit, but hey, you never know…) I’ve found I do much better with succulents and cacti as I’m a forgetful waterer. It’s my cross to bear, and one I am determined to overcome. I dream of a home filled
with greenery; hanging from the ceilings, covering my window sills, bringing life to the centerpiece of my dining room table. Hopefully, I’ll get there one day, but for now, some informative classes could do the trick in teaching me the skills I need to care for the little greenies. Well have no fear because Master Gardener Jim Gimnick is prepared to show you the ropes of caring for a Bonsai tree as well as dropping some garden knowledge on the ins and outs and history of the plant.
Starting at nine thirty Saturday morning, Gimnick will present The Art and Practice of Bonsai, a PowerPoint presentation on the origins, history and practice of caring for Bonsai trees. Learn all you need to know about these funky little zen guys from planting to pruning, including a demonstration showing how to convert a nursery plant to a Bonsai tree. Visit the Chattanooga Public Library’s Northgate branch for this Master Gardener Series and get your green thumb growing! — Brooke Brown
Some families cause unintentional scars because of, for example, neglect, abandonment, parenting limitations. Some wounds are due to more tangible dynamics: emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Of course there are families that do an admirable job of providing the necessary and healthy love, attention, support, strength, security and happiness. Even under these character-building conditions, there is no such thing as “perfect parenting.” And so, there is no such thing as growing up into an adulthood devoid of issues. It becomes our responsibility, then, to “reparent” ourselves, to fill in the empty spaces where our parents may have dropped the ball, no matter how infrequently. We are wise to seek the help of professionals when needed—caring counselors, loving spiritual leaders, wise elders. Ultimately that bag o’ tools we count on to get us through the tough times is our own responsibility. Consider this: Whatever you need to do for a healthy, happy, whole life is energy well spent, re-parenting a life better prepared to reap the rewards.
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COVER STORY
Hypnotism, Health, And You Hypnotism is used for far more than comedy & entertainment By Kevin Hale Pulse contributor
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Once in a trance, the subconscious mind comes to the forefront and the person is more open to suggestibility.”
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OU ARE GETTING SLEEPY, VERY SLEEPY. WE’VE ALL seen this scenario play out, maybe in a movie or at the circus, where a hypnotist dangles a pocket watch on a chain to slowly and seductively put his subject into a trance-like state.
Once under the hypnotist’s spell, it seems the person will do anything and everything they are instructed to do. It can take a comic turn and be quite playful, like asking someone to act like Santa Claus or Henry VIII. But some are now using the mysterious practice as a vehicle for self-improvement and harnessing the science of brainwaves to lead a more emotionally-rich life. So the old cliché about a person getting sleepy under hypnosis is half true.
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“Hypnosis is the area in your brain right before you go to sleep,” says stage hypnotist Gary Conrad. “Once in a trance, the subconscious mind comes to the forefront and the person is more open to suggestibility.” Gary Conrad was first interested in hypnosis in the fourth grade. He did a book report on the human mind. Although he doesn’t remember the grade he got on the report, it did ignite a lifelong interest in what the brain can and
cannot do. The brain can heal the body, digest food, and control things like hearing and auditory experiences. Then you delve deeper and you get into the unconscious mind. “Moving in between the conscious and unconscious minds, you reach a sort of grey, twilight area,” explains Conrad. Obviously, not all suggestions are positive and all of us have been subject to negative reinforcement at some time during our lives. “Under hypnosis, it’s my goal to take out the negative programming,” says Conrad. “People’s negative program-
ming really holds them back from living their best life.” Conrad goes on to mention Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” published in the winter of 1845. The tale only seems to add to the mystery surrounding hypnosis. In the story, an unidentified narrator hypnotizes a dying man bringing him to articulo mortis or “at the point of death”. Having finally fallen under complete memorization for the first time, the dying man slowly loses physical function of his body but can continue to talk with his tongue. Scientists had already started to experiment with the procedure, but Poe’s story is where the word “hypnosis” appears in the fiction for the first time. The history of hypnosis is as ancient as that of sorcery, magic, and medicine; indeed, hypnosis has been used as a method in all three. Its scientific history began in the latter part of the 18th century with Franz Mesmer, a German physician who used hypnosis in the treatment of patients in Vienna and Paris. Because of his mistaken belief that hypnotism made use of an occult force (which he termed “animal magnetism”) that flowed through the hypnotist into the subject, Mesmer was soon discredited; but Mesmer’s method—named mesmerism after its creator—continued to interest medical practitioners. A number of clinicians made use of it without fully understanding its nature until the middle of the 19th century, when the English physician James Braid studied the phenomenon and coined the terms hypnotism and hyp-
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Its scientific history began in the latter part of the 18th century with Franz Mesmer, a German physician who used hypnosis in the treatment of patients in Vienna and Paris. ”
nosis, after the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos. Hypnosis attracted widespread scientific interest in the 1880s. AmbroiseAuguste Liébeault, an obscure French country physician who used mesmeric techniques, drew the support of Hippolyte Bernheim, a professor of medicine in Strasbourg, France. They had written that hypnosis involved no physical forces and no physiological processes but was a combination of psychologically mediated responses to suggestions. “We are all subject to suggestions,”
Conrad continues. “Suggestion has crept into our subconscious over time.” Of course the almost infamous Austrian physician Sigmund Freud was impressed by the therapeutic potential of hypnosis for neurotic disorders. On his return to Vienna, he used hypnosis to help neurotics recall disturbing events that they had apparently forgotten. As he began to develop his system of psychoanalysis, however, theoretical considerations—as well as the difficulty he encountered in hypnotizing some patients—led Freud to discard hypnosis in favor of free association. (Gen-
erally psychoanalysts have come to view hypnosis as merely an adjunct to the freeassociative techniques used in psychoanalytic practice.) Conrad talks about the Mayo Brothers from Rochester, Minnesota being leaders introducing hypnotherapy to soldiers who had experienced combat neuroses during World Wars I and II. “It’s much easier to help people who have experienced a one-time traumatic event, like soldiers in war, than someone who has experienced a lifetime of trauma,” says Darlene Karst, LPC-MHSP with the Center for Mind Body Therapy here in Chattanooga. Karst goes on to talk about EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a psychotherapy treatment originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. But this treatment has now evolved into RRT, or Rapid Response Treatment. RRT is a unique therapeutic modality that includes somatic awareness, attachment focused therapy and applied brain science. Karst says treatment focuses on the subconscious mind, the seat of most problematic behaviors and thoughts. This therapeutic approach is very effective with anxiety disorders, trauma and addictions. “Since it uses the language of the subconscious, results can be experienced after only a few sessions,” says Karst. Hypnosis by itself just relaxes whoever is being put under the spell. In a clinical setting, it’s crucial for the therapist and client to be in agreement
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COVER STORY on what behavior they want to change before the procedure. Various researchers have put forth differing theories of what hypnosis is and how it might be understood, but there is still no generally accepted explanatory theory for the phenomenon. “And that’s what it is,” says Conrad. “A genuine hypnotic phenomenon.” However, the techniques used to induce hypnosis share common features. The most important consideration is the subject be willing and cooperative and that he or she trust in the hypnotist. Subjects are invited to relax in comfort (low lighting, soothing calm music) and to fix their gaze on some object. The hypnotist continues to suggest, usually in a low, quiet voice, that the subject’s relaxation will increase and that his or her eyes will grow tired. Soon the subject’s eyes do show signs of fatigue, and the hypnotist suggests that they will close. The subject allows their eyes to close and begins to show signs of profound relaxation, such as limpness and deep breathing. They have entered the state of hypnotic trance. “Clients have to buy into the process on an emotional level,” says Karst. “If the procedure doesn’t work, then me and the client haven’t successful identified what they want.” Karst says it’s all in an attempt to move the brain forward. The client has to find the emotional hook of the behavior being identified. During hypnosis, the therapist can tap into the subconscious and get to the emotional root of the behavior.
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The client has to find the emotional hook of the behavior being identified. During hypnosis, the therapist can tap into the subconscious and get to the emotional root of the behavior.”
“This therapy really depends on the person,” says Karst. “I have a lot of intelligent clients but the goal here is that the logical and emotional mind are in agreement.” Hypnosis can treat everything from helping people stop smoking (smoking cessation), weight loss, sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, pain relief, self-esteem issues, physical healing, trauma, bad habits and phobias, in addition to many other issues. In fact, you might be hard pressed to discover something that hypnosis won’t be able to treat.
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“But all hypnosis is a form of selfhypnosis,” says Nancy Holland LPE. “If the individual does not believe or accept what is suggested to them, they will not take the suggestion.” Holland encourages clients to identify a symbol, like an animal in the wild they feel exhibits characteristics they want in themselves, and/or a place that can connect them with thoughts of what that place symbolizes. A good example for some people might be the beach or another relaxing location. “We then incorporate three or four
key words they can connect with the symbol and these are reinforced several times during the hypnosis to help connect to further strengthen the hypnotic suggestions,” says Holland. “Recognition and replication,” adds Conrad. He goes on to explain the different types of suggestibility or learning. “Learning to ride a bicycle as a kid growing up, you’ve mastered about 80 percent of that skill,” says Conrad. “But something like learning French at a young age, it would be harder to recall that skill say at the age of 30 if you haven’t consistently used it.” One common misconception is that people don’t remember being in a trance. “People are afraid to be hypnotized because they think they will reveal their secrets, humiliate themselves or be humiliated,” says Conrad. “You’re not going to strip off your clothes and go running down the street naked.” And then there is the fear that the hypnotist will be able to control your mind and actions. “Some people think they are giving up control of their mind which is not true,” says Karst. “If that was true I would be rich. I would just tell people to open their wallets.” Kevin Hale is a journalist and internet and television marketer living in North Chattanooga. He enjoys chasing flying saucers and saving bees with his 6-year old son.
COLUMN · JUST A THEORY
It’s The Summer Research Roundup Our science guru keeps up with all the latest news just for you
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ELL, THE KIDS ARE BACK in school, and we’re about half way through Summer, so it must be time for another Research Roundup! PARKER SOLAR PROBE
Steven W. Disbrow Pulse columnist
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Unlike previous missions to the Sun, which orbit our star from a relatively safe distance, the Parker Solar Probe is actually going to dive into the Sun’s atmosphere and study it directly!”
Steven W. Disbrow is the proprietor of “Improv Chattanooga” on the South Side of town. He also creates e-commerce systems and reads comic books when he’s not on stage acting like a fool.
The biggest science news of the summer is the launch (just days ago) of the Parker Solar Probe. Unlike previous missions to the Sun, which orbit our star from a relatively safe distance, the Parker Solar Probe is actually going to dive into the Sun’s atmosphere and study it directly! Over the next several years, the Parker Solar Probe will use a series of gravity assists from Venus to slow down and get closer and closer to the Sun. (It has to slow down because, when it leaves the Earth, it’s got the same orbital velocity. This means it will remain in the same basic orbit if it doesn’t burn off some of that speed.) But, that same change in orbit will put it on a new path around the Sun, one in which it picks up a lot of speed. Eventually, it will be the fastest moving object ever created by humans, with a speed of about 430,000 miles per hour. (Which is about 125 miles per second! Imagine driving to Atlanta in one second.) And, as I said, it’s going to get close to the Sun, really close. At its closest point, it will be just 3.83 million miles from the Sun. That’s inside the orbit of Mercury, and about seven times closer than any previous mission. At that distance, it will be exposed to more heat and radiation than any other probe before it. To survive, it’s been outfitted with a special, 4.5-inch thick heat shield made of a carbon-composite material. This can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and will keep the
probe’s instruments at a constant 89 degrees, even at closest approach. The point of the whole mission is to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind. This should help us understand why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface, and, hopefully, help us better predict the coronal mass ejections that occasionally shoot towards the Earth. (Which could destroy our technological infrastructure if a really big one was to hit us.) Plus, with any luck, we’ll get some spectacular new images of Venus too! SOUND WAVES…CURVE UP? Have you ever seen a cartoon where the echo of a voice or sound is shown as floating upwards? Well, a new theoretical model claims that this might be closer to the truth than was previously suspected. A trio of researchers at Columbia University published a paper in July where they conclude that, sound waves, rather than being “just” vibrations in a medium, actually have gravitational mass. In fact, they have negative gravitational mass. So, as sound waves move, they actually drift upwards! At this point, this is all just theoretical, as the mass of these waves is calculated as being far too small for current technology to actually detect. But, the paper also lays out some experimental setups that could possibly detect them in the not too distant future. (Also, the paper is so new that it hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet. But, it’s caused
quite a stir with its TL;DR conclusion of “Sound is basically Anti-Gravity!”, so it should get picked apart fairly quickly.) LIVING ON MARS? NOT SO FAST. We end this roundup with some sad news. New research has shown that there is a strong possibility that Mars doesn’t contain enough Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in either it’s polar caps or beneath its surface for us to effectively Terraform it for future human habitation. Simply put, there’s not enough CO2 stored there to warm the place up enough so that liquid water (and people) can exist on the surface. Currently, Mars’ atmospheric pressure is 0.6 percent that of Earth’s. Current data suggests that, even if we dug up all the CO2 trapped on Mars and pumped it into the atmosphere, it would raise the pressure to just 6.9 percent of Earth’s. That’s nowhere near enough to sustain water, or people. However, I have an idea for a possible solution: The atmosphere of Venus is almost entirely CO2, and there’s entirely too much of it. So, why not transport some of that CO2 from Venus to Mars and get two new planets for the price of one? It would be a massive project, for sure, but, it could give us two new places for Humanity to call home.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Photography Of Kathryn Kolb In this day and age of smartphones with incredibly high res cameras, many of us think we qualify as photographers when our greatest achievement is taking selfies and photos of our brunch. Sure, that photo of your eggs benedict is nice, but truly understanding the dedication behind becoming an award winning fine art photographer goes beyond snapping pictures of a combination of breakfast and lunch. Expand your photography knowledge at St. John’s Methodist Church this Thursday as fine art photographer Kathryn Kolb debuts a program of “Minimalistic and Artistic Photography.” Originally a freelance photographer in journalism and editorial content, Kolb decided to pursue fine art imaging of ‘natural forms and landscapes’ in the mid-90s and has since been published in magazines such as Rolling Stone, Smithsonian, and Nature Conservancy. Her works of black and white natural photography are breathtaking in greyscale and her color works combine light and blurred imagery in such a way it’s hard to distinguish if you’re looking at a photograph or a watercolor painting. Something all of us with or without an eye for photography will be delighted to learn more about. While you can find her work in private and institutional collections across the globe, Kolb’s debut of her minimalistic works will find a special place right here in Chattanooga Thursday at seven. — Brooke Brown
On The Beauty Of Decay Theda McPeek explores beyond the surface By Tony Mraz Pulse contributor
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A trope that comes up a lot in my drawings is abandoned, manmade structures in the middle of the woods—it would always seem so magical to me when I found one.”
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VER SINCE ITS TRANSFORMATION FROM INDUStrial wasteland to vacation destination, the Scenic City has been preoccupied with beauty. Much of the art made here reflects that, but none accomplishes it quite like the work of Theda McPeek. Her stunning imagery succeeds in being beautiful, but does it in a way that is eerie and slightly morbid. In recent years, she has created a body of work that is composed of drawings, paintings, fiber projects, and a series of incredibly lifelike dolls. The work is permeated by a certain melancholy, in her words, “A feeling of being alienated in a corporeal body that’s slowly rotting and being preoccupied with death, and returning to dirt.” As a child, she spent most of her time playing in the woods. “A trope that comes up a lot in
my drawings is abandoned, manmade structures in the middle of the woods—it would always seem so magical to me when I found one,” she tells us. “Someone obviously went well out of their way to make this building or whatever so far from easily accessible provisions and now it was abandoned? What must have caused it? That always spoke of a weird mystery ghost story to me.” Growing up, McPeek was inspired by Japanese animation, and began her career by trying to replicate it. That interest led her to discover several influential anime
movies like Evangelion, Akira, Perfect Blue, Tekkon Kinkreet and Mind Game. She also studied manga artists like Junji Ito and Suehiro Maruo, whose work eventually led her to cult horror films like those of Sion Sono and Jan Svankmajer, where she found a fascination with aspects of body horror in art. “Those were my main influences when I was younger, and they still are major, but I got to be more interested in gothic, romantic, vaguely paranormal stories like Flannery O’Connor’s ‘The Violent Bear It Away,’ and basically every book or story by Shirley Jackson,” she elaborates. “She is probably my favorite author, and ‘We Have Always Lived In the Castle’ has influenced me in many ways.” What she loves about those types of stories is the psychological horror, where nothing is definably wrong, but everything is just a little bit strange, knocking the reader off kilter. The same could be said for her paintings and dolls. “For both things I probably don’t plan ahead as much as I should— I’ll do a loose sketch sometimes, but mostly I just like to see how it turns out on its own.” She likes to try out different materials whenever the opportunity arises, but for her paintings and drawings, she mostly uses acrylic, watercolor,
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I’m really inspired by subtle horror stories. I like pretty or cute things juxtaposed with horror—it almost makes it more unsettling.”
pencil and gel pens. The works are executed with a realistic style that is reminiscent of the surrealists. For her dolls, she uses Fimo polymer clay, fabric, and real hair. She started by making dolls that had clay heads, hands, and feet, with cloth bodies stuffed with pillow stuffing and metal skeletons (so they were poseable). Now she mostly does ball jointed dolls—for those, she makes all of the parts hollow. “I just use foil for the head and body, mold the clay around it, and remove it after baking,” she explains. “For the limbs, any cylindrical thing will do. I use an old paintbrush wrapped in foil, and a little Dremel tool is always helpful for hollowing out any delicate or small parts.” The dolls are put together by stringing elastic through the body parts, and attaching it to hooks at the wrists, ankles and inside the top of the head. She usually makes the head and all of the ball joints first, so the other body parts can be molded to fit them well. “Polymer clay is really forgiving, if you make a mistake you can cut bits
off or add bits on, and rebake basically as many times as you need to—too much and it can get a bit brittle, but nothing devastating,” she says. “There are some good tutorials for making ball jointed dolls out there— Most people do a life-size drawing of the doll and work from that to get their proportions right,” she continues. “Like I said, I’m really inspired by subtle horror stories. I like pretty or cute things juxtaposed with horror—it almost makes it more unsettling. I seem to always come back to plants or mycelium growing out of bodies.” Embracing the beauty of decay, McPeek’s art happily takes us from vacation destination back to industrial wasteland. Though it has an aesthetic that depicts much deterioration, her work continues to grow, and she is developing a new skill set to incorporate into it. “Next, I want to make a metal sculpture with a clockwork mechanism— I’ve always thought clockwork powered things were lovely.” See more of McPeek’s work on Instagram @snagglemouth.
THU8.16
FRI8.17
SAT8.18
Heather Land Comedy Tour
Shakespeare in the Park
Farm to Cocktails
Heather brings her "i ain't doing it" comedy tour to town, which has been selling out across the land. 7 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com
One of the Bard's favorite comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” comes alive in the great outdoors. 6 p.m. Coolidge Park 150 River St. downtownchattanooga.org
Kaleena Goldsworthy leads a workshop for all skill lelves on how to turn local produce into some very tasty cocktails. 5:30 p.m. Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St. crabtreefarms.org
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Cooking With Herbs
THURSDAY8.16 Buster Keaton's "Our Hospitality" and "The Cameraman" 2, 7 p.m. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Art From The Heart 2.0 6 p.m. BMW of Chattanooga 6806 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 381-6419 bmwofchattanooga.com Glass Dresses and Silver Screens 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org PSC presents Kathryn Kolb 7 p.m. St. John’s United Methodist 3921 Murray Hills Dr. (423) 892-2257 stjohnumc.org Heather Land Comedy Tour 7 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Carlos Mencia 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
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FRIDAY8.17 Out On 8th 5 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. (423) 424-1831 westvillagechattanooga.com Cambridge Square Night Market 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Shakespeare in the Park: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 6 p.m. Coolidge Park 150 River St. (423) 643-6311 downtownchattanooga.org Carlos Mencia 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Improv Movie Night: Post-Apocalyptic! 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Improv Showdown
10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Poetry After Dark: Midnight Sessions 11:11 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com
SATURDAY8.18 Battlefield Bicycle Tour 9:30 a.m. Chickamauga Battlefield 3370 Lafayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA (706) 866-9241 Master Gardeners Series 9:30 a.m. Chattanooga Public Library, Northgate Branch 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 643-7785 chattlibrary.org Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Tour the Native Animal Exhibit 10:30 a.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Cooking with Herbs
11 a.m. Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Mold Making and Casting Workshop with Isaac Duncan III 11 a.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Meow Luau! 11 a.m. Humane Educational Society 212 N. Highland Park Ave. (423) 624-5302 heschatt.org Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Karting for Kitties Fundraiser 1 p.m. Infinity Flux 3643 Hixson Pike (423) 591-5689 infinityflux.net Farm to Cocktails 5:30 p.m. Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Summer in West Village 6 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com Carlos Mencia 7:30, 9:45 p.m.
Traffic Skills for Bike Commuting The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com 1 Star Reviews: The Show 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Nature of Art: Films and Fireflies 8:30 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Improv vs Stand-Up 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY8.19 Chattanooga Market 10 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Benefit for Scott Jackson 1 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Family Fun Day: Dressed in Glass 2 p.m. The Hunter Museum of
American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Celebrating Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial 3 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com G.R Goodwin & Friends 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY8.20 Beginning & Advanced Watercolor 9 a.m., 1 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Summer Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Traffic Skills for Bike Commuting 6 p.m. Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” 7 p.m.
Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov
TUESDAY8.21 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m. Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Extended Cavern Experience 8 a.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour 4 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute 175 Baylor School Rd. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Science on Tap 5 p.m. Barley Taphouse 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com “The Ranger” 8 p.m. First Draft Theater
1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Andy Sanford’s Comedy Night 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY8.22 Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Rapid Learning Kayak Skills + Roll Sessions 6 p.m. Chester Frost Park 2277 Gold Point Cir. N. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Chad Prather 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
A Celebration Of Genres
Chattanooga has a blend of what seems like a hundred different musical genres, from americana, pop and punk to bluegrass, metal and rock, we can never experience enough diversity of music. And with new live music venues popping up around town almost daily, whether it’s strictly a music venue or your local bar, Chattanooga is never light on good music. Our constant rise of bands and solo acts shows just how dense our music scene is, but leave it to Tremont Tavern to host an eclectic collection of sounds like no other as this Saturday evening from nine to midnight, Tremont will play host to Kofi Mawuko as he performs live. A Ghana, West Africa native, Kofi originally began performing across Europe, Africa, Cuba and Russia with Kyirem Children’s Cultural Performing Troupe at just ten years old before moving to the United States later in life to expand on his talent in percussion. Thriving in jazz, blues, hip-hop, funk, rock and roll, techno and bluegrass throughout the Southeast, Mawoku is a traveled mashup of all Chattanooga could hope to hear. Mawoku’s expertise in percussion has allowed him to be an opening act for international artists such as Ladysmith Black Mbazo, Ruben Studdard of American Idol fame, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Don’t miss what is sure to be a spectacular show at the Tremont Tavern this Saturday, and something you’ll want to tell your co-workers about come Monday morning. — Brooke Brown
Young Valley, New Tour The new breed of country takes on the outlaw mantra By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
“
Depending on your proclivities, sometimes what’s lost is far more valuable than what was gained, but that’s the way of things sometimes.”
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A
H, COUNTRY MUSIC! SO WHAT IS THAT, EXACTLY, anyway? Like every other genre of popular music, it has evolved over time, not always for the better.
By 1975 certain tropes were well established enough that David Allan Coe made a meta reference to “mama, trains, trucks and getting out of prison” as being essential components of any country song. Flash forward thirty years and Porter Wagoner is wondering what the hell a honky-tonk badonkadonk is. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not slagging any particular era of country music; to each their own. What I am trying to illustrate is that the music has undergone some rather significant changes since its early gospel/folk/western swing
origins and sometimes it’s hard to gain something new without losing something else. Depending on your proclivities, sometimes what’s lost is far more valuable than what was gained, but that’s the way of things sometimes. There is, as of late, a new breed of country musician, although “new breed” is somewhat paradoxical since one of the defining characteristics of the young Turks is a return to, or updated version of, an older approach. Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton are prime examples, for while they
bring modern sensibilities to their music, there is some serious singer/songwriter thoughtfulness to their work that, for a decade or two, was nearly forgotten. They are, as far as I can say, the rightful heirs to Outlaw Country, and they aren’t alone. Hailing from Jackson, Mississippi, Young Valley is an up and coming group, well on their way to securing a place in that hallowed tradition. They have a big sound, but then they’re a big band. Zach Lovett, Spencer Thomas, Dylan Lovett and Ethan Frink all share vocal duties in addition to their respective instruments while Kell Kellum plays pedal steel and Phil Thompson rounds out the ensemble on violin (not fiddle?) and keys. Zach, Dylan and Spencer write the songs, incorporating ideas from across the musical spectrum, always managing to bring it home to a place that is definitely country, but not exclusively country. There’s rock, there’s folk, there’s more than that, and they blend it all together so seam-
“
There’s rock, there’s folk, there’s more than that, and they blend it all together so seamlessly with well written, thoughtful lyrics that New Outlaw is the best way I know to describe them.”
lessly with well written, thoughtful lyrics that New Outlaw is the best way I know to describe them. The band is kicking off its second tour to promote its second album (self-titled) on August 22nd starting in Nashville at The Local, making their way up to Pennsylvania and New York and ultimately winding back down to Knoxville, North Carolina and South Carolina. It’s another whirlwind tour for a group whose stock continues to rise like a rocket. Songs like “Burnt Out,” “Cool Blue Patience” and “Without You” demonstrate the band’s range within the genre running the gamut from classic to contemporary to “they will never allow this on the radio but people
A Fond Farewell To Shahkim, Lord Subliminal
are gonna go nuts for it in concert.” The album, Young Valley, is available now in the usual range of formats through Dial Back Sound’s website and elsewhere, but more importantly, the band is making several passes within easy driving distance of the Scenic City and you absolutely MUST see them now. This is the second time I’ve written about them this year for one simple reason: within the next two years Young Valley is going to explode nationally and the opportunity to say, “I saw them when” will be lost forever, so have a listen, drive to a show, see them now, and annoy your friends later with how you knew this famous band first.
Shahkim has gone by many names since I first met him in 2006. More significantly, his music has gone through many stages in that time, from the young overtly political rap of a decade ago to a grittier, meaner “gangsta” era, and ultimately arriving at a place that is far more worldly and spiritual with his most excellent release of the song and video, “Sage and Sorcerer”. At every step of the way his work has been marked by diligence, supreme effort and commitment to his craft which is why it’s on a slightly sad note that we announce his “going away concert” on Wednesday, Aug. 29th at JJ’s Bohemia. Shah is headed west, the Pacific North West to be precise, to further his holistic studies and explore the metaphysical aspects of his music in Oregon. The Other Brothers (BJ Hightower, Joe dill, Tony Mraz, Karliss Lyttle and GG Walin) will be performing that evening along with Shah. The show is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. and will be as much a family reunion as a concert and farewell party for one of the Chattanooga music scene’s iconic players. — MTM
THU8.16
FRI8.17
SAT8.18
An Evening With Angie Aparo
The Nim Nims
Gaslight Street
Angie Aparo is a folk rock country punk jazz singer trapped in a love song. Yeah...he's hard to define. 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com
Local legends bring out all the stops for a night of original rock-n-roll with their own unique style and swagger. 7 p.m. Oddstory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co
Playing the second of two nights at HiFi Clydes, they've crafted a signature sound that is equal parts honey and moonshine. 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Meadow Mountain
THURSDAY8.16 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Jimmy Dormire 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Dustin Concannon 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Amber Fults 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com An Evening With Angie Aparo 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Hatcher Phillips Band 7 p.m. Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Night 7 p.m. Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com
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Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
FRIDAY8.17 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Sabrina Murdaugh 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. publicmarkets.us Naomi Ingram 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The Nim Nims 7 p.m. Oddstory Brewing Company
336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Meadow Mountain, Caney Creek Company 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Bluetastic Fangrass 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Beckett Honicker 7 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Above & Beyond 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Erik Nelson & The Tourist Trap 8 p.m. Barley Taphouse 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Jon Scott 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Torpedoes Be Damned: A Tribute To The Life And Music Of Tom Petty 9 p.m.
Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Gaslight Street 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Oubliette, Lacing, Preymantha, Iniquitous 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Velocity of Sound 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY8.18 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Eric Sanders 11 a.m. Adelle’s Creperie 400 E. Main St. adellescreperie.com Drakeford 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us
29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Jam Session 7 p.m. Crust Pizza 3211 Broad St. crustpizza.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
WEDNESDAY8.22 JJ Grey & Mofro Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Dirty Blonde 7 p.m. Ross’s Landing Park 201 Riverfront Pkwy. riverfrontnights.com The Briars / Dovetail Trio 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Danimal 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Spinster 8 p.m. Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com Backwater Still 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com The Mosleys 8 p.m. Barley Taphouse 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Kofi Mawuko 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Neon Moon: The Ultimate ’90s Country Tribute Band 9 p.m.
Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Gaslight Street 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com The Okay Bunch 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Velocity of Sound 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY8.19 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Sunday Brunch with John Carroll 11 a.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Spinster 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Marcus White Piano Brunch
11 a.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The Do Rights 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Elk Walking 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Travis Bowlin 2 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. publicmarkets.us Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Mathis & Martin 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com JJ Grey & Mofro 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com
MONDAY8.20 John Carroll 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com
Gino Fanelli 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com An Evening with Mary Gauthier 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessy Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com
TUESDAY8.21 Mark Andrew 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m. Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar
No Big Deal 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Zechariah Dallas 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Mike Mcdade 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Naomi Ingram 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Clare Donohue 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17
ERNIE PAIK'S RECORD REVIEWS
New Music From Viands, Pram
Viands Seven Thousand Year Plan (Two Rooms)
Pram Across the Meridian (Domino)
T
of ambient and German kosmische music, and for the gear nerds reading this, Shettler and Peterson utilize a variety of synths (including ones from Moog and Arturia), keyboards (from Roland and Wurlitzer) plus a Rhodes electric piano. Seven Thousand Year Plan features four pieces, delivered as two continuous vinyl record sides (or digital downloads), and the opening number “The Gifting of VA” offers wanderings with careful patterns and the pitter-patter of mysterious reverberating steps; notes stretch their arms with varying timbres and boosted frequencies, while some sharp-
he Detroit keyboard duo Viands treads a line fraught with soft tension while holding things together, perhaps like a stranded astronaut sending out electronic distress signals while remaining calm. Comprised of David Shettler (known for his work in Moon Pool & Dead Band, SSM and other outfits) and Joel Peterson (of Chatoyant, Immigrant Suns and Scavenger Quartet), Viands’ new, second album Seven Thousand Year Plan feels a little more naturally formed than its debut, Temporal Relics, with its methods perhaps less conspicuous. Both bear certain elements
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edged, reedy tones add their vinegar brightness. That track leads directly into “243,” with the whooshing of aural river rapids, eventually pulsing with faintly buzzing discordant tones before a woozy unraveling at the end. Side B’s combination of “Set Adrift/Celestial Companions” conveys uncertainty with occasional moments that crystallize into shiny pockets; at one extended moment, amorphous synth tones congregate in the low-to-mid frequency range for a slippery vamp, seemingly satisfied to flop around rather than commit to any particular genre’s hallmarks. A heavenly din reveals itself with an ending that’s even more ambiguous than what came before, with electric piano notes that dance among unsettling drones; it’s the sound of an escape pod’s ride, offering a spectacular view as it hurtles toward the heart of a star.
F
or this writer, the enigmatic British band Pram scratches a particular itch that no other band can, creating playful
and deeply evocative yet sinister sounds that are eclectic and worldly and never directly mimic a source. Pram’s catalog, beginning in the early ‘90s, is full of treasures that bring to mind bizarre aquatic circuses, strange and alien lounge music, or perhaps the Cottingley Fairies frolicking in a haunted dollhouse in a Jan Svankmajer stop-motion animation film (start Googling, my dear readers). The group’s excellent new album, Across the Meridian, comes eleven years after its predecessor, 2007’s The Moving Frontier, but it’s like no time had passed in the interim, being consistent with various stylistic touches—saccharine keyboards and organs, exotic elements, shuffling and propulsive percussion—but featuring plenty of variation to show a creative progression. The most notable development is the departure of founding member, lyricist and vocalist Rosie Cuckston— some fans might consider this a deal-breaker, but this writer asks them to hear the band out. Samantha “Sam” Owen,
another founding member, assumes vocal duties and offers a fairly convincing take on Cuckston’s vocal style, which is kind of like a choir girl on antihistamines. The album’s lead track, “Shimmer and Disappear,” puts its best foot forward, offering a dizzying array of sources, muddled together with cackling brass, subtle Indian drones and a strong soundtrack vibe—a little adventure, suspense and mystery with loads of charisma. “Where the Sea Stops Moving” has a melancholic mood with piano patterns, queasy background and twinkling metal percussion, conveying both unease and innocence. Synthetic tones sometimes give the album a ‘50s science fiction mood, while jazzy sax flourishes and a few sick wahwah guitar licks tug the proceedings into other directions. This writer can’t help but feel like this album—brimming with ideas, and worth the long wait—would have been more appropriately otherworldly music for the Star Wars cantina scene than what was used.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Whoever does not visit Paris regularly will never really be elegant,” wrote French author Honoré de Balzac. I think that’s an exaggeration, but it does trigger a worthwhile meditation. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you’re in a phase of your cycle when you have maximum power to raise your appreciation of elegance, understand how it could beautify your soul, and add more of it to your repertoire. So here are your homework meditations: What does elegance mean to you? Why might it be valuable to cultivate elegance, not just to enhance your self-presentation, but also to upgrade your relationship with your deep self? (P.S.: Fashion designer Christian Dior said, “Elegance must be the right combination of distinction, naturalness, care, and simplicity.”) VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Many of us imagine medieval Europe to have been drab and dreary. But historian Jacques Le Goff tells us that the people of that age adored luminous hues: “big jewels inserted into book-bindings, glowing gold objects, brightly painted sculpture, paintings covering the walls of churches, and the colored magic of stained glass.” Maybe you’ll be inspired by this revelation, Virgo. I hope so. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you can activate sleeping wisdom and awaken dormant energy by treating your eyes to lots of vivid reds, greens, yellows, blues, browns, oranges, purples, golds, blacks, coppers, and pinks. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An astrologer on Tumblr named Sebastian says this about your sign: “Libras can be boring people when they don’t trust you enough to fully reveal themselves. But they can be just as exciting as any fire sign and just as weird as any Aquarius and just as talkative as a Gemini and just as empathetic as a Pisces. Really, Librans are some of the most eccentric people you’ll ever meet, but you might not know it unless they trust you enough to take their masks off around you.” Spurred by Sebastian’s analysis, here’s my advice to you: I hope you’ll spend a lot of time with people you trust in the coming weeks, because for the sake of your mental and physical and spiritual health, you’ll need to express your full eccentricity. (Sebastian’s at http://venuspapi. tumblr.com.) SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A blogger who calls herself Wistful Giselle has named the phenomena that make her “believe in magic.” They include the following: “illuminated dust in the air; the moments when a seedling sprouts; the intelligence gazing back at me from a crow’s eyes; being awaken by the early morning sun; the energy of storms; old
buildings overgrown with plants; the ever-changing grey green blue moods of the sea; the shimmering moon on a cool, clear night.” I invite you to compile your own list, Scorpio. You’re entering a time when you will be the beneficiary of magic in direct proportion to how much you believe in and are alert for magic. Why not go for the maximum? SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Since 1969, eight-foot-two-inchtall Big Bird has been the star of the kids’ TV show Sesame Street. He’s a yellow bird puppet who can talk, write poetry, dance, and roller skate. In the early years of the show, our hero had a good friend who no one else saw or believed in: Mr. Snuffleupagus. After 17 years, there came a happy day when everyone else in the Sesame Street neighborhood realized that Snuffy was indeed real, not just a figment of Big Bird’s imagination. I’m foreseeing a comparable event in your life sometime soon, Sagittarius. You’ll finally be able to share a secret truth or private pleasure or unappreciated asset. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Activist and author Simone de Beauvoir was one of those Capricorns whose lust for life was both lush and intricate. “I am awfully greedy,” she wrote. “I want to be a woman and to be a man, to have many friends and to have loneliness, to work much and write good books, to travel and enjoy myself, to be selfish and to be unselfish.” Even if your longings are not always as lavish and ravenous as hers, Capricorn, you now have license to explore the mysterious state she described. I dare you to find out how voracious you can be if you grant yourself permission. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my reading of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be prime time to vividly express your appreciation for and understanding of the people you care about most. I urge you to show them why you love them. Reveal the depths of your insights about their true beauty. Make it clear how their presence in your life has had a beneficent or healing influence on you. And if you really want to get dramatic, you could take them to an inspiring outdoor spot and sing them a tender song or two. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In her book Yarn: Remembering the Way Home, Piscean knitter Kyoko Mori writes, “The folklore among knitters is that everything handmade should have at least one mistake so an evil sprit will not become trapped in the maze of perfect stitches.” The idea is that the mistake “is a crack left open to let in the light.” Mori goes on to testify about the evil spirit she wants to be free of. “It’s that little voice in
THE COMIX my head that says, ‘I won’t even try this because it doesn’t come naturally to me and I won’t be very good at it.’” I’ve quoted Mori at length, Pisces, because I think her insights are the exact tonic you need right now. ARIES (March 21-April 19): “The prettier the garden, the dirtier the hands of the gardener,” writes aphorist B. E. Barnes. That’ll be especially applicable to you in the coming weeks. You’ll have extra potential to create and foster beauty, and any beauty you produce will generate practical benefits for you and those you care about. But for best results, you’ll have to expend more effort than maybe you thought you should. It might feel more like work than play -- even though it will ultimately enhance your ability to play. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author and theologian Thomas Merton thought that the most debilitating human temptation is to settle for too little; to live a comfortable life rather than an interesting one. I wouldn’t say that’s always true about you, Taurus. But I do suspect that in the coming weeks, a tendency to settle for less could be the single most devitalizing temptation you’ll be susceptible to. That’s why I encourage you to resist the appeal to accept a smaller blessing or punier adventure than you deserve. Hold out for the best and brightest. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I’ve learned quite a lot, over the years, by avoiding what I was supposed to be learning.” So says the wise and well-educated novelist Margaret Atwood. Judging by your current astrological omens, I think this is an excellent clue for you to contemplate right now. What do you think? Have you been halfavoiding any teaching that you or someone else thinks you’re “supposed” to be learning? If so, I suggest you avoid it even stronger. Avoid it with cheerful rebelliousness. Doing so may lead you to what you really need to learn about next. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sometimes you make it difficult for me to reach you. You act like you’re listening but you’re not really listening. You semi-consciously decide that you don’t want to be influenced by anyone except yourself. When you lock me out like that, I become a bit dumb. My advice isn’t as good or helpful. The magic between us languishes. Please don’t do that to me now. And don’t do it to anyone who cares about you. I realize that you may need to protect yourself from people who aren’t sufficiently careful with you. But your true allies have important influences to offer, and I think you’ll be wise to open yourself to them. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19
FILM & TELEVISION
Buster Keaton And Fritz Lang The Heritage House Arts & Civic Center on Jenkins Rd. has long been a local destination for lovers of classic films. And this week, they have two celluloid presentations sure to delight filmgoers. It kicks off this Thursday with a Buster Keaton double feature, showcasing Our Hospitality and The Cameraman, part of their ongoing International Film Series. In Our Hospitality, a satire of Southern manners, a man returns to his Appalachian homestead, falling for a young woman in the midst of his journey. The only problem is—her family has vowed to kill every member of his family! Yeah, that’s a bit awkward. And in The Cameraman a clumsy man, hopelessly in love with a woman working at the MGM Studios, attempts to become a motion picture cameraman in order to be closer to the object of his desire. Both films are shown back-to-back starting at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Then on Monday at 7 p.m., the Retro-Future Film Series presents Fritz Lang’s science fiction classic Metropolis. In a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners, the son of the city’s mastermind falls in love with a working class prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences. Be sure to catch these great films. You won’t be disappointed. — Michael Thomas
The Prism Of The Past Spike Lee channels the '70s to look at today By John DeVore
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Pulse Film Editor
What's sad is that in any other era a film like this one would push the boundaries of political filmmaking.”
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S
PIKE LEE’S LATEST FILM BLACKKKLANSMAN MIGHT be set in the 1970s but it’s not movie about a time period. One of the more frustrating things about living in the future is how hard old habits seem to die. Lee is a filmmaker that knows the limits of humanity. He’s shown time and time again through his films that there are no easy answers and everyone has their own hypocrisies and blind spots. At the same time, Lee has never shied away from holding those hypocrisies to the light, particularly when it comes to white America. His films are often uncomfortable in their honesty. BlacKKKlansman is no different. The film is peppered with not-sosubtle references to today’s political climate, coming from the mouths of
the very worst among us. It points fingers at the Trump administration and, in no uncertain terms, accuses them of using the same racist rhetoric found in the messaging of people like David Duke. What's sad is that in any other era a film like this one would push the boundaries of political filmmaking, garnering endless discussion about Lee’s fairness to the other side. But today, associating the President with white supremacy is as routine as associating rain with thunder. This doesn’t make the film any less affecting though. If anything,
BlacKKKlansman is all the more powerful. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) has always wanted to be an undercover cop. So, when the Colorado Springs Police Department opens their doors for diversity hires, Stallworth jumps at the chance to become their first black officer. He doesn’t quite make detective on his first go around. Instead, he’s dropped in the records room and where he suffers abuse at the hands of his fellow boys in blue. Eventually, however, Stallworth gets his big break. Kwame Ture, a nationally known member of the Black Power Movement, has been invited to speak at Colorado College. The white police chief agrees with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover that his movement is dangerous and assigns Stallworth to infiltrate their meeting. While the assignment finds nothing, Stallworth proves his worth and is re-assigned to the undercover wing of the department. Soon, Stallworth finds an advertisement in the paper looking for new recruits for the Ku Klux Klan. Without hesitating, Stallworth calls and secures a meeting with the group. In order to maintain the illusion, Stallworth brings in Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), a Jew-
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Lee also makes a point to show that even when motivations are diametrically opposed similarities can occur.”
ish member of the narcotics division, to serve as his stand-in for in person meetings. Gradually, Stallworth is able to become a full-fledged member of the KKK thanks to the help of David Duke (Topher Grace) himself. It’s the film’s characterization that makes it work so well. Lee really knows how to write realistic and flawed people. He understands that even ideologies that agree in principal can disagree in action and that the very parts that make up an individual are many times at odds with each other. Ron is a black man working to bring down the KKK from inside the police department. His girlfriend Patrice (Laura Harrier) is the president of the black student union working to fight racism and empower her people any way she can. Patrice hates the police for their racist enforcement tactics. Ron hates it too but works alongside it. Their ideologies are at odds when their motivations are the
same. Lee also makes a point to show that even when motivations are diametrically opposed similarities can occur. The KKK and the Black Power Movement both call cops pigs. They both chant about their own power in relation to their race. But Lee is not equivocating. It’s just that people are complex and hate is easy. It’s easy for the unengaged to see the current administration as something to laugh at and ignore. Things like Space Force are patently absurd which leads to easy jokes and memes. But there is something far more sinister to be found in our current government. Charlottesville did not happen in a vacuum and David Duke, the villain of the film, is a huge fan of Donald Trump. There is a reason for that. Anyone that denies this is lying to themselves. The ultimate message of BlacKKKlansman is that hatred isn’t funny. It wasn’t then and it isn’t now. The danger isn’t going away on its own.
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Mile 22 An elite American intelligence officer, aided by a top-secret tactical command unit, tries to smuggle a mysterious police officer with sensitive information out of the country. Director: Peter Berg Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Lauren Cohan
Crazy Rich Asians This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. Director: Jon M. Chu Stars: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · ON THE BEAT
Bodymore, Murdaland Officer Alex looks at the police "progress" of Baltimore, Maryland
T Alex Teach
Pulse columnist
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These cops do the minimum and answer 911 calls for help and deal with the basics on the street but they don’t do proactive policing for fear of becoming a global villain.”
When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.
HE WIRE . THE HBO SERIES that made Baltimore, Maryland (aka “Bodymore, Murdaland”) gangsta’ way, way before the Freddie Gray riots did. The city is a fascinating lesson in theory-vs-reality in so many areas it’s tough to pick one to narrow it down… but brace yourselves: being a Copper, I’m going to go with the law enforcement angle. Since the riots of 2015 a great deal has happened: A consent decree by the Department of Justice, a series of scandals resulting in indictments of an entire policing unit (the Gun Trace Task Force, aka the False Evidence and Corruption Team), and most recently the resignation of an officer after yet another viral video of a black officer using excessive force against a black man (the rage being why he wasn’t prosecuted rather being than allowed to resign), but it’s what hasn’t happened since 2015 that is making the real news to me. The Baltimore PD has gone from being a proactive department (initiating street corner field interviews, stopping suspicious vehicles, etc.) to simply being reactive to 911 calls for help and the most basic calls requiring reports for insurance purposes and the like. You don’t need to be a professor to guess what the result of this is, but I’ll provide a quote from one anyway. Peter Moskos, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor (and former Baltimore officer to boot) says “Cops are doing as requested: lessening racial disparity, lessening complaints, lessening policeinvolved shootings.” All those numbers are just great right now, and if those are your metrics of success, we’re winning. The message
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has clearly gotten out to not commit unnecessary policing.” And as a result, in 2017 Baltimore has set its own record for homicides while managing to decrease officer contacts with suspicious people (aka, “people yelling the name of a drug for sale from a street corner”) by 70 percent. The city has become both the Rock and the Hard Place for policing. Do your job, and if you’re nice or act firmly, they will comply. It’s that simple! But we know it’s not. The next step is to be nice, be firm, and if they don’t comply, if you can’t guarantee the outcome, you’re going to be fired, prosecuted, and likely wind up on national and global television. The answer to your average BPD beat cop? You walk away if they don’t comply. Which naturally also isn't going to happen, so they just don’t bother doing anything at all. These cops do the minimum and answer 911 calls for help and deal with the basics on the street but they don’t do proactive policing for fear of becoming a global villain and losing their homes and any future job prospects. Cause, meet Effect. Is this right? Absolutely not. But is it reality? It absolutely is.
As Prof. Moskos can attest, Baltimore now indeed has lessened racial disparity in the BPD ranks, fewer complaints, and fewer police involved shootings and deaths…but the cost of that is now fewer cases being solved and fewer crimes being prevented in advance in order to reduce the potential for violence between police and young black men through proactive policing. Like it or not, people with violent tendencies tend to be violent, and dealing with them day in and day out leads to (brace yourself!) violent encounters. Firing and or prosecuting officers for being too cautious now is the proposed solution. And the effect? Let’s talk about who is going to step up and fill that slot because most smart people don’t take low paying jobs with high physical, and now financial and legal, risk. I’m very interested to see how this problem is going to be solved now that politicians and activists are in complete control of this reclamation process. They have complete ownership of both the problem and the solution, so no more excuses...but I certainly hope the situation changes because currently you couldn’t pay me to do anything other than drive around Baltimore today. Let’s take another look in a year, shall we?
JONESIN' CROSSWORD
“Alien, the Sequel”—actually, do call it a comeback. ACROSS 1 CNN chief White House correspondent Acosta 4 Disinterested 9 Ax handles 14 ___ pro nobis 15 Grammar concern 16 ___ the side of caution 17 “Humbug!” preceder 18 Harry’s kin 20 Honey ___ (Post cereal, as renamed in 2018) 22 1990s Wink Martindale game show that paid off contestants’ obligations 23 Cable company alternative to streaming, for short 24 Italian racecar 28 Levy 30 St. George’s state 31 Difficult responsibility 34 More sick, in old hip-hop slang, or ... more sick, in general 35 Long-running role-playing video game franchise 38 Take to the skies
39 Place to go play 40 ATM maker bought by AT&T in 1991 43 Dress code loosening 45 Without toppings 48 Suffix after tera- or peta49 Provided party music 50 Bela of horror films 52 Ocean liner’s route 54 Ultravox frontman Midge 55 1980s Secretary of State Alexander 58 “Automatic for the People” group 59 Trivia magazine started in 2001 63 Org. that’s (supposed to be) concerned with pollution 66 Patient waiter 67 “Helps stop gas before it starts” product 68 “Neither fish ___ fowl” 69 Light bite 70 First two words of some political yard signs 71 TV alien with a reboot announced in August 2018 (as found
in the long answers) DOWN 1 Interview goal 2 Science writer Flatow 3 Reddish-brown wood 4 Blew up 5 Bear, to Bernal 6 Parker Jr. of the “Ghostbusters” theme song 7 “Zounds!” 8 Remove, to a proofreader 9 Antagonist in “The Year Without a Santa Claus” 10 Sleeve tattoo locale 11 Waste time frolicking, old-style 12 “I’ve got nothing ___” 13 “The Late Late Show” host before Kilborn, Ferguson, and Corden 19 Gp. once headed by Mueller and Comey 21 “That’s funny” 24 Overly muscular 25 Monopoly purchase (abbr.) 26 Some meat alternatives 27 Location of a nursery
rhyme’s three men 29 It’s not what the P stands for in TP (unless the T is “two”?) 32 Retract, as regrettable words 33 One way to walk tall? 36 One generating a lot of interest 37 Charge for a spot 40 Capital of Chad 41 Pulitzer-winning San Francisco columnist Herb 42 Sydney suburb 43 A.F.L. merger partner 44 Running in neutral 45 Tests the depths 46 Entice 47 Meeting outline 51 Different ending? 53 Pyromaniac’s crime 56 “One ___ land ...” 57 Show with Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester 60 Private eye, informally 61 ___ in “Oscar” 62 ___-Caps (movie candy) 64 D.C. sort 65 Dog noise
Copyright © 2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 897 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 16-22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23